The Raptors just made the decision to fire Nick Nurse, but he was far from the biggest problem in Toronto..
There were many things that went wrong for the Raptors as they slumped to a 41-41 record and lost in the play-in tournament to the Chicago Bulls this season. It was clear for everyone to see that this team needed to shake things up and they needed a reset and the easiest way for any franchise to do that is to fire their head coach, so that’s what Masai Ujrii did with Nick Nurse.
Despite Nurse clearly showing some deficiencies as a head coach, many other issues were plaguing this roster that was completely out of the control of the now-former head coach.
Nurse is the winningest coach in team history, a coach of the year, and an NBA champion, all within five years. With so much success how did we get to this point?
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0:00 – Overview
0:44 – Nick Nurse FIRED by the Raptors
1:50 – Nurse’s biggest problem
2:40 – How did it get so bad?
4:27 – This team needed shooting
5:57 – The Starting Five vs The Bench
6:49 – The Biggest problem
9:02 – Masai Ujiri’s Fault in this
10:43 – The failures of scouting
12:04 – Our direction is shifting
This is Amateur Hour Sports. On this channel, Jacob Gramegna analyzes and breaks down the latest on the Toronto Raptors NBA team from trade rumors to post-game reactions, analysis and much more. By subscribing to this channel you will be there first to watch and enjoy 3-4 videos a week all focused on this team and on game days Jacob goes live on the channel for a watch party where he interacts with chat, answers your questions and analyses the game as it happens with play by play and commentary. Join the Amateur Hour Army today by subscribing and consider becoming a member to give the extra support to the channel and help create better content more often.
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44 Comments
What do you think was the biggest problem in Toronto this season?
He really was …just the fact that he had a good roster of talent and hindered development drastically is enough …he made our players collectively actually look worse than they are
Lol the whole year a lot of the fan base was on board with firing nurse. Now it’s as if he’s being used as a “scapegoat” apparently to them but in reality nurse did nothing for us. Played starters waaaay to much. Cant draw up a play in the 4th. Cant make adjustments once teams call some timeouts. Doesn’t like giving the young guys a chance. Idk how people think a coach like that isn’t at fault for how the season turned out. Yeah the roster wasn’t the best and the players didn’t perform the greatest but a lot of that can be overlooked by good coaching/team play and nurse didn’t help bring any of that. Nurse is a good coach but once it’s time to change things up a bit nurse just says fuck you my way or the highway
If the mandate is to win then the front office did a poor job replacing Kawhi, Lowry, Gasol, Powell, Ibaka, Danny Green,
No bench, no n#1 option, can't shoot 3 pointers, FVV was terrible this year.. need back up point guard.. yeah.. and Masai fires the coach
Masai constructed the team with about 6 or 7 power forwards, no centre and no back up point or sg. The team lacked shooting as well which is a recipe to lose in todays nba. NN won with a great team and lost with a poorly constructed team. This was on masai who did nothing for three years until peortl. Too little too late. Nurse knew from experience they would lose if he played anymore than 7-8 guys.
The problem was deciding whether winning or developing was the goal. Its not suppose to be both. The people saying play the bench more you'd see more losing. This is the try hard to win limit with fvv being the bigger try hard to carry. NN is the scapegoat because he had no choice either develop and lose or at least try winning with an fvv who can't lead but siakam was fine.
The biggest problem was NN. He was given plenty of bright young and experienced players, yet, he failed to develop any of them. Make one mistake and you were benched for games.
Nick was a great assistant coach but he had no experience as head coach. He was not a leader of men and boys. 😊
The roster was the main issue. The lack of shooting was awful. When we won the chip we had a ton of shooting. Nick was a problem but he was not the only problem.
The Raptors need a coaching change it wasn't all Nick's fault but a head coach plays a significant role in determining how a team does and Nick Nurse just wasn't getting the job done to improve the Raptors but that also falls on management and the players they have as well so their needs to be serious changes to the Raptors
Well said
Good name for the channel and commentary 🏀🏀🏀 Keep up the good work.
I have watched every game, it's not NN's fault Rap's players just can't stop the other team's goal to be a champ
Man you've the worst takes, Masai's decisions, trades, drafts, is always the problem. Nurse never developed the young players, weird rotations, playing time. You said it yourself he did not address developing players.
So I get it,you start with the top! The winingest coach in franchise history.The only coach to win the chip! The rest of you are saying dump FVV& GTJ& PASCAL! WHO in the hell do you I got Scottie? Numbers don't lie he fell further than any other player! IMO He's not going to be a leader! Bench flat ass sucked.GTJ& FVV&SPICY& NN will all thrive when you all run them out. WHO DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE THESE GUYS??? NBA Players aren't thrilled with going to Canada where there dollars aren't worth as much!If they unload all these guys,im going to stay tuned for the shit show! All those with the sign& trade b.s.,players don't give ya a good bye present.They are FREE agents,meaning they have the ability to seek what they perceive as fair value! Wont be any sign and trade! These guys are all going to be better not playing 40 min.plus,less injuries.Be careful what you wish for,it can and WILL get worse! NN will get his job& his cash
Blame Masai all you want he can trade one player and get back good players and draft picks and Raps are back on track. You act like you know ball better than Masai… guess what it's not true.
When the team tunes the coach. Whos fault us it? Shut up!!! His ego got in the way. He quit on the team. And he had some into the teams construction. He has not given the bench a chance at all. How are the rooks supposed to get better? Get over the championship. He lost his voice in the room….
Raptors App : " In five seasons (2018-2023) at the helm of the Raptors, Nurse had the best winning percentage in team history with a 227-163 (.582)) record, made three playoff appearances, winning two Atlantic Division and one Eastern Conference Title, and the 2019 NBA Championship".
I guess the organization wants more and that okay !
The biggest problem is that the team was not cohesive. I feel the players lost motivation.
I disagree. I dont think the front office brought bad pieces….. nick straight up destroyed the bench. All these bench guys cant shoot here but they could before and after they are here. Ever stop to think why? maybe its the culture and knowing one mistake and your career is over here.. maybe its the system that exclusively runs through fred and siakam so most of the shots bench players get are just late force ups. I dont know all I know is there has been like 15 guys come in here over 3 years and their abilities just tank. You have to start wondering if its not the players.
idk whos to blame but goddamn FVV was hard to watch at times this year, his percentages were in the dirt. like sub 40% shooting in the modern nba is just not acceptable, and man all those missed free throws in the play-in
He lucked out. Dwayne Casey was a far better coach and would've won the championship if he wasn't fired.
Another Great Video, so true!!
This guy is disappointed bec all he wants is trading OG
Three words Fred Van Vleet
I agree with you. The biggest problem is Masai Ujiri failing to bring in the pieces that Nick Nurse needs to be successful. Project 6'9 is just beautiful on paper but never really worked out. The Raptors should have had a center last year.
I was trying to come up with a coach other than Ime Udoka but all I could come up with was Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing. Udoka did a good job with the Celtics but I don't know if he is the right fit. Adrian Griffin has been with the organization so long I don't know if that would be enough of a change. My personal belief is they get someone young but with some experience.
7:24 if we needed shooters, then the raps should have kept Matt Thomas.
Nailed it. Malachi, Boucher, Precious were absolutely awful with turnovers, executing schemes and making baskets. Add a lemon in OPJ. And don’t get me started on Delano Banton whose sole existence on the Raptors is he’s from Rexdale. The bench was hot garbage from day 1, and add to that a regression in three’s from FVV and GTJ and the result is the 23 season.
Nick was the main problem. He created a tiered system between his 5 starters and the bench and did not hold all players accountable in a consistent way. He did not develop his younger guys and then at the same time he blamed them for all of the problems the raptors had. Our starting 5 played more minutes than any team in the league. I don't think we really know how good the bench could have been, they just were simply not given a chance to develop, build confidence, and rhythm.
The starting lineup was not good actually regardless of what the numbers say. They beat up on a lot of bad teams down the stretch. If those 2 games against Boston didn't open your eyes then yall are truly lost when it comes to this team!! A front court of Yak, Pascal and Scottie will never work unless 2 of them become knock down shooters!!! Raptor fans are too sentimental with their players and it seems like yall don't watch the rest of the league and see the level of play that's going on.
The problem with the Raptors is that NN was under pressured to win games instead of developing young/new players. He had to play starters 38+ min a game in order to get a W. Then it's Fred's contract season so he wasn't happy to be more of a "supportive role". He had to prove his numbers. Then GTJ's performance just fell off the chart because he was demoted to a bench role instead in his contract season. It' quite obvious that GTJ is not happy with the situation. The whole bench development was ignored by NN because he couldn't keep loosing games.
The biggest thing that the Raptors need to fix is get rid of Fred (and potentially Siakam) as both of them are great pieces as the #2 and #3 scoring options. They have been given 3 years to lead the team but the record continued to slide. So it's time to trade them and go into a rebuild mode. Scottie can't waste his 3rd year behind Fred and Siakam.
Siakam is likely to be traded as he is still very valuable to contending teams.
This team couldn't make it out of the 1st round since the chip. They would double on defense for no reason. Last year they over achieved and this year under achieved with basically the same roster. If you watched the first 2 months this season, nurse enabled fvv and siakam with selfish basketball. There was no ball movement. If the 3pt shot is our weakness, why are we taking so many? It's time for nurse to go and he knew it.
How bout yuta Watanabe and svi? If it's players after players failed in Toronto and became contributing piece in other teams then it's the coach fault.
Achiuwa was one of the best players in last year playoffs and was playing exceptional as starters this year.
I'm really afraid guys like Flynn and banton would breakout in other teams.
U got Gary Trent Jr, achuwa, Chris Boucher off the bench r u serious blaming on the bench. It's clearly locker room issues here. Many teams would envy our bench to be honest.
Bruh your takes are ridiculous first this notion the rosters was good enough when it was same team that finished 4th. Then you defending a guy who won one playoff series since Kawhi left. The Masai said from last year he needs see growth from his roster, NN for 2 years refuse to have a proper bench rotation. Also the regression of Scotty Barnes was a huge factor why he got release. Also his late game decisions in 4th how many times raptors blew leads this year? The way he talks about is players in media is ridiculous and not at all what professional coaches do. Last about the least out the way he handle FVV when this guy was main reason why Raptors didn’t make the playoffs. FVV was they worst player in NBA for minutes played and FG percentage. For a professional coach to make that guy your number 1 guys was a joke! Bruh I understand you fan but the dude was terrible coach that’s why he got fired.
BRO YOU SHOULD STICK TO HOCKEY BC IF YOU DONT THINK NICK NURSE WASNT THE PROBLEM TAKE THE BROOKLYN GAME LAST SECOND LOSS WAS BAD COACHING HE LEFT THE SHORTEST GUY ON THE FLOOR WITH SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME A GOOD COACH WOULD OF TOOK FREDDY OUT AND PUT A BIGGER DEFENDER.. BROOKLYN SCORED THE WINNING BASKET OVER FREDDY 😂😂
While I’m sure NN wasn’t the main reason, he lost WAY too many games by less than 7 the last two years and he he didn’t adjust. I think when Pascal and Nurse had their big blowout after Tampa it’s been downhill from then.
Wonder who came up with the postionless basketball theory and build a roster to that.
The volume of injuries led to the poor start. The starting lineup was so choppy up until Christmas. Of court issues played a big part too. The trade talk didn't help. It was louder this season due to the poor start. Fred and GTJr playing for contracts rather than the team unsettled things until Poetl came in and Masai commented on the selfishness.
Scotty was inconsistent with his development. His perimeter shooting killed his game for big parts.
The development vs winning debate is BS. You play to win. If young players perform NN plays them. Look at Dowtin this season. NN seemed frustrated he wasn't available all the time. Younger players were given chances but didn't step up.
Collectively the team didn't shoot to potential/ability. Epitomised by the missed free throws vs Bulls.
Not being able to guard your player 1v1 killed the team too. So many blow bys game after game, down to poor concentration. Ultimately the players are responsible for that. Coaching schemes can't legislate for that.
Quality on bench was short too. Otto injury didn't help. Front office need to get it sorted for next season.
Lots of quality in the team, with Championship winning potential minus a 1st option level player. Siakam a top tier 2nd option. Fred, GTjr, OG, Scottie all decent 3rd options. Scottie, Poetl and OG are glue guys on both ends of the court.
The player options for Fred and GTJr will shape the off season. It looks like they'll both opt out. If I was Masai, I would be looking to turn them into a 1st option. If both go elsewhere, then go after a top free agent. Or re-sign and trade.
Biggest blame on FO building a soft as Charmin team. Be better FO, please tell players to leave PONCHOs
Nurse is the biggest problem period! Y’all hyped him up and give him to much credit. He is overrated…..if any other team hired him just keep an eye on him and you will see. Y’all making the 2019 championship cloud y’all judgement. There are 2 shooters Ron Harper and the joe kid sitting on the bench, not given any damn mins to play, if they do get any at all it’s garbage min with 2 mins left to go. Then y’all gonna say the team doesn’t have shooters. Y’all must be blind, and please don’t say they’re trash because they have not gotten any efficient mins to show you that, and don’t say they were trash and another, because one man garbage is another man’s treasure…… just looked at a lot of other players Nurse fail to give mins to , they are having success on another team, What i notice about y’all overrated Nurse is the he takes away players confidence, players are playing looking over their shoulder, because they know any little mistakes made they are pull from the game never to get any mins again or 10-15 games later they finally get to play.
Nate and Gleeson need to gtfo of here 💯.
Trevor was brought in as offensive, then transitioned to defensive coach mid-way. That says he is buddy buddy but doesn't know wtf he's doing but was kept around anyways. And Nate….well he was brought BACK after being a much malaised head coach in Indiana, as an 'Advisor', and then assistant coach. That was never publicly asked about or ever openly addressed. I fully believe he is as toxic and as much of a head-case hothead as was claimed before his return. Every clip that he has ever appeared him, is him screaming at people. Dude is unhinged. And these are Nick's guys…
I would retain Earl Watson (because he disagreed with NN, which means he's not a pushover yes-man) and Rico…because he's Rico, duh, and his rep precedes him. I'd keep Griffin on board. Only neutral guy imo that knows what he's doing.
Lol how the bench produce when you play 5 minutes every other week….. will see how good he is in other teams ….
The problem was the so called leader he wasn’t consistent at all